Foghorn Leghorn: Lookit here son, I say son, did ya see that hawk after those hens? He scared 'em! That Rhode Island Red turned white. Then blue. Rhode Island. Red, white, and blue. That's a joke, son. A flag waver. You're built too low. The fast ones go over your head. Ya got a hole in your glove. I keep pitchin' 'em and you keep missin' 'em. Ya gotta keep your eye on the ball. Eye. Ball. I almost had a gag, son. Joke, that is.
Jokes Aside,
HAWKS Concern me!
We have lived in our home in the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania for over 2 years now, and I can't tell you how many times my head was filled with pictures of hawks flying away with one of my birds! Many of us are becoming angry and frustrated, AND even though it's against the law to shoot a hawk, some of us talk about getting out the old shotgun.
Well guess what! I plan to do just that!
Now, I say I say.. don't get all upset until you read my story son.
Did you know that…..
All hawks and owls are protected by federal and state laws?
There are cases, however, in which they can create public health and safety hazards or seriously affect a persons livelihood. Contact your local USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services office first if you are interested in obtaining a shooting permit.
Jokes Aside,
HAWKS Concern me!
We have lived in our home in the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania for over 2 years now, and I can't tell you how many times my head was filled with pictures of hawks flying away with one of my birds! Many of us are becoming angry and frustrated, AND even though it's against the law to shoot a hawk, some of us talk about getting out the old shotgun.
Well guess what! I plan to do just that!
Now, I say I say.. don't get all upset until you read my story son.
Did you know that…..
All hawks and owls are protected by federal and state laws?
There are cases, however, in which they can create public health and safety hazards or seriously affect a persons livelihood. Contact your local USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services office first if you are interested in obtaining a shooting permit.
We live in the Blue Mountains a few miles from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary which is the world's first refuge for birds of prey and an international center for raptor conservation. FOR YEARS, our local schools have sent our children to the conservation center and on the trails to learn all about the Sanctuary and instilling a greater appreciation for the natural world and understanding why we need to conserve birds of prey.
I have read, read and read some more!
I ran across a ton of ideas for controlling predators, HOWEVER for some reason I see no facts. I have a great need to understand WHY! I always need to research and dive deep to find reasoning behind suggestions. If its one thing I have learned is that I should never believe everything I am told unless there are facts to support it, but when it comes to my girls, I will try anything to prevent causualties!
I have read, read and read some more!
I ran across a ton of ideas for controlling predators, HOWEVER for some reason I see no facts. I have a great need to understand WHY! I always need to research and dive deep to find reasoning behind suggestions. If its one thing I have learned is that I should never believe everything I am told unless there are facts to support it, but when it comes to my girls, I will try anything to prevent causualties!
A few Ideas and suggestions:
Hang shiny or glittering things in the trees, CD’s & pie pans to reflect the sun and scare them away!
Mylar baloons, left tied out at various heights above the run.
Disco Balls on rope so it spins and moves.
Car Lot Sale Tassel Banners.
Mylar emergency blankets cut.
A feisty 5'2" crazy chicken lady that packs heat. (me)
Adult Roosters will attack to save its hens.
Best breed Roo would be a game rooster.
A good dog who is "worth it's salt"
Driveway Alert System $20+
Crows attack hawks but not sure I would raise them
Create a “Spider-Web” run cover w/ monofilament fishing line!
Hang Scare-Crows or Fake Owls/crows!
Half-full plastic bottles or CDs hung up in trees.
Keep feeders under overhang.
Play a local talk show on the Radio and broadcast it from the coop! Or a CROW soundtrack!
Hang Fluorescent vests, or put on scare crow.
Add pallets or other items to add more shelter.
BTW If you watched that video above, the last will make you chuckle.
Cunning Farmers in Tanzania are outwitting hawks by dying their chickens PINK & PURPLE! No really they are!! https://www.dfid.gov.uk/What-we-do/Research-and-evidence/case-studies/research-case-studies/2011/Farmers-in-Tanzania-paint-chickens-/
NOT one method will work, use several methods but keep rotating things and using different props!
Informative Link...
Hawk and Owl Damage Management
Damage Prevention and Control Methods
http://www.extension.org/pages/11018/hawk-and-owl-damage-management
At this link you will find some GREAT ideas, some practicle and some are not.
Pyrotechnics
a variety of exploding or noise-making devices.
Break out the 12 gauge shotgun because here come the"shell crackers"!
" http://www.westernwildlifecontrol.com/12-gauge--shell-cracke12.html
Trapping and Relocating
A landowner must obtain a permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and usually the local state wildlife to trap any hawk or owl that is causing damage. Trapping is usually permitted only after other nonlethal techniques have failed.
SUMMARY..........
I know that the right thing to do is to cover my run
with poultry netting or wire so that I know my birds are 100% safe from predators. However, I choose to create huge runs in the woods for my poultry so they can experience the fun of scratching, dust bathing, digging in roots and so on. So I have to be WELL prepared for the occasional flying predator and know that sooner or later I will loose some of my prize flock. But at least I have a "game plan"!
I say I say son..... I have a game plan and that ain't no joke!
HAWK MIGRATION CHART.... I am pretty sure this site has timeline information
http://www.hawkmountain.org/raptorpedia/migration-path/page.aspx?id=352
Hawk Mountain and raptor science.
Why do migrating raptors concentrate at Hawk Mountain?
Hawk Moutain straddles the Kittatinny Ridge or Blue Mountain, a 300-mile-long, prominent ridge that extends from 60 miles north of New York City to 20 miles west of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
http://www.hawkmountain.org/raptorpedia/raptorpedia/page.aspx?id=649
http://www.hawkmountain.org/raptorpedia/raptorpedia/page.aspx?id=649
Adding information as we go!
I ran into this.....
Assistance From Other Animalshttp://voices.yahoo.com/keeping-hawks-away-chickens-7003038.html?cat=7
Guinea hens may be noisy, but they are an excellent alarm system. Any predator that makes an appearance in your yard will be cause for a great deal of squawking. The guineas themselves are generally too large a target for most hawks, and so are not often taken.
Dogs can't be everywhere at once, but they can help. Some say pot bellied pigs make decent deterrents as well.
Keep in mind that domestic animals used in keeping hawks away have their own needs that must be met. However, purple martins do not require our help and can be encouraged to stay in an area with gourd nests. These birds sometimes chase off hawks en masse in order to protect their young and have the added feature of eating mosquitoes.
Bald Eagle Wind Spinner
We all ready have one of these balls, also has silver shiny stringers that you attach that blow in the wind.... http://www.amazon.com/Bird-X-SE-PAC-Scare-Balloon-3-Pack/dp/B000QUWTS0/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t
Tangle Guard Bird Repeller Ribbon
A space age holographic ribbon that provides economical and humane spot control for nuisance birds.
http://www.nixalite.com/tangleguard.aspx
PNWHEELS!! you can even make them!
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